This general assembly press release shows just why I really enjoy having Ray Gallison as one of Portsmouth's reps. He's been unrelenting in his opposition to LNG, and this (undoubtedly half-serious) proposal makes the commmunity's feelings completely clear. Enjoy the whole release. Thanks, Rep. Gallison!

Gallison bill would make LNG shippers pay the outrageous expense of defending R.I. from their risks

STATE HOUSE – Rep. Raymond E. Gallison Jr. has submitted legislation that would require LNG tankers traveling through Rhode Island waters to pay millions to local municipalities each time they pass, post enormous bonds and carry $1 billion in liability insurance.

The goal of the legislation, which is scheduled for a hearing before the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee Thursday at the rise of the House session in the House Lounge, is to stop the proposed offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) offloading facility proposed in Mount Hope Bay by Weaver’s Cove Energy LLC and Hess LNG.

“I don’t know how we can make it any clearer to Weaver’s Cove and Hess LNG that this is not welcome here. Every city and town and practically every organization that has an interest in the bays, the environment or public safety in the area has come out to fight against this facility. If this is what it takes to shoot down this loathsome proposal, this is what I’ll do,” said Representative Gallison (D-Dist. 69, Bristol, Portsmouth), an ardent opponent of the project.

Under the legislation (2010-H 7608), the operator of each LNG vessel traveling through Rhode Island waters would have to pay $1 million per trip to each shoreline city and town it passes, and Roger Williams University, both as the ship enters Rhode Island waters and as it exits. That money is meant to assist Newport, Jamestown, Middletown, Portsmouth, Bristol, Tiverton and Warren – all of which are along the route LNG tankers would be expected to take en route to the proposed facility off the coast of Fall River, Mass., – with the cost of safety and security of the vessels.

The legislation expressly prohibits LNG tankers from trying to avoid the fees by employing their own private security forces instead of relying on government peace officers to enforce the tanker security zones.

On top of those fees, the tankers would be required to carry at least $1 billion in liability insurance, and post bonds for each transit under bridges along the route. The bonds would be $475 million for those going under the Pell Bridge and $225 million for those going under the Mount Hope Bridge.

Additionally, each LNG tanker would be required to have on board a certified and licensed Rhode Island pilot, an American master mariner and a minimum of five National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) LNG-certified fire personnel. It would also have to be surrounded by four NFPA LNG-certified firefighting vessels as long as it remains in Rhode Island waters. The operator of the LNG tanker would pay the cost of these requirements.

Representative Gallison isn’t pretending that any LNG company would be able to comply with those regulations and remain profitable.

“It would be impossible, and that’s the point. It’s appropriate because it’s also impossible to bring LNG into Narragansett Bay and Mount Hope Bay safely. If Weaver’s Cove and Hess LNG are so insistent about pursuing this incredibly dangerous plan, they had better be prepared to pay for the outrageous expense preventing an accident that could endanger the thousands of Rhode Islanders who live and work along the coast,” said Representative Gallison. “The truth of the matter is that there just isn’t any practical way that Weaver’s Cove and Hess LNG can guarantee our safety when giant, super-flammable tankers are being brought through the bay, barely clearing the bridges and going through areas where a terrorist or someone else with a desire to harm people could easily hide within striking distance.”

Representative Gallison said he hopes the bill illustrates the incredible burden and risk that Weaver’s Cove and Hess LNG are trying to pass off on the public so it can profit from a new facility.

“Rhode Islanders don’t want this facility. We don’t want to be put in danger. And we certainly don’t want to bear the cost of defending ourselves from it while Weaver’s Cove and Hess LNG make money on it. If they want to build a facility that represents a huge public risk, they can pay to keep us safe from it,” he said.
— via GA press release